Apply for renewal of approval as a classification undertaking for carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep

If you and your company classify carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep in statutory commercial classes and categories, you require an approval. You can apply to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food for an extension of the approval.

Companies that classify carcasses of cattle, pigs and sheep into legal commercial classes and categories are called classification companies. If you have such a company, you need an approval.

You must apply to renew this approval after five years. You must submit the application to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

If you continue to meet the approval requirements and your approval has been successfully extended, it is again limited to 5 years.

• Completed application for extension of the license
• Description of the company's organizational structure
• Extract from the central trade register
• Copy of the partnership agreement or articles of association

• Your company has a branch or an address for service in Germany.
• Your company fulfills the requirements of the DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020:201207 Type A standard. Certification by an accreditation body is not required.
• Your company demonstrably works independently, reliably and competently.
• Your company has a sufficient number of employees who are authorized to classify meat.

• Appeal:

You will find information on how to lodge an objection in the notification.

You can apply online or by post to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) to renew your approval as a classification society.

Apply for renewal online:

• Call up the online application in the federal portal. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information.
• Upload the required documents and submit the application online. Alternatively, you can print out the completed online application and send it to the BLE by post with the required documents.
• The BLE will check your application documents and contact you if anything is unclear or information is missing.
• The BLE will arrange for an on-site inspection at your classification company (office audit) and inspections at the slaughterhouses (witness audits) where your classification company operates.
• If no deficiencies are found during these inspections and all required application documents are complete, you will receive the extension of your approval as a classification company. The extension of the approval is limited to 5 years.
• You will also receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.

Apply for renewal by post:

• First apply for the application form. You can do this informally by contacting the BLE's Department 524 by e-mail or post.
• Complete the application form you receive.
• Send the completed and signed application form with the required documents by post to the BLE.
• The BLE will check your application documents and contact you if anything is unclear or if any information is missing.
• The BLE will arrange for an on-site inspection at your classification company (office audit) and inspections at the slaughterhouses (witness audits) where your classification company operates.
• If no deficiencies are found during these inspections and all required application documents are complete, you will receive the extension of your approval as a classification company. The extension of the approval is limited to 5 years.
• You will also receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.

The fee for extending the approval of your classification society is EUR 140.00. In addition, there are fees for the on-site inspection, which are made up of a basic amount and the on-site inspection days.: Fee 140,00 EUR

The basic amount for the on-site inspection of the approval requirements depends on the number of slaughterhouses for which your classification company is active.: Fee from 190,00 EUR to 630,00 EUR

Fees for one day or part thereof of the on-site examination: Fee 810,00 EUR